U.S. patent application number 10/445315 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-28 for apparatus and method for inspecting optical fiber end face.
Invention is credited to Villeneuve, Nicolas.
Application Number | 20040213537 10/445315 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33302721 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040213537 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Villeneuve, Nicolas |
October 28, 2004 |
Apparatus and method for inspecting optical fiber end face
Abstract
An adapter for use in the process of inspecting the end face of
an optical fiber. The adapter is used as an interface between an
inspection probe and a connector. The connector holds an the
optical fiber end which has a surface. The adaptor comprises a
positioning mechanism having an attachment portion for releasable
attachment to the connector; and a fixture adapted for releasable
attachment to the probe. The fixture is mounted to the positioning
mechanism and is moveable relative to the attachment portion. The
positioning mechanism permits movement of the probe for inspection
of the surface.
Inventors: |
Villeneuve, Nicolas;
(Charlesbourg, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OGILVY RENAULT
1981, MCGILL COLLEGE AVENUE
SUITE 1600
MONTREAL
QC
H3A 2Y3
CA
|
Family ID: |
33302721 |
Appl. No.: |
10/445315 |
Filed: |
May 27, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60382562 |
May 24, 2002 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
385/134 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B 6/385 20130101;
G02B 6/3833 20130101; G02B 6/3885 20130101; G02B 6/3807
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
385/134 |
International
Class: |
G02B 006/00 |
Claims
1. An adapter used as an interface between a probe and a connector,
said connector holding an optical fiber end having a surface, said
adaptor comprising: a) a positioning mechanism having an attachment
portion for releasable attachment to said connector; and b) a
fixture adapted for releasable attachment to said probe, said
fixture being mounted to said positioning mechanism and moveable
relative to said attachment portion; wherein said positioning
mechanism permits movement of said probe for inspection of said
surface.
2. The adapter of claim 1 wherein said surface is substantially
parallel to an end surface plane, said probe for obtaining an image
of said surface, and wherein said positioning mechanism permits
movement of said probe substantially in parallel to the end surface
plane.
3. The adapter of claim 2 wherein said fixture comprises a hollow
coupling portion, and wherein said probe is mounted within said
hollow coupling portion.
4. The adapter of claim 3 wherein said positioning mechanism
further permits movement of said probe substantially
perpendicularly to the end surface plane.
5. The adapter of claim 4 wherein said fixture is slidably mounted
to said positioning mechanism.
6. The adapter of claim 5 wherein said positioning mechanism
further comprises horizontal and vertical sliding rails on which
said fixture is slidably mounted.
7. The adapter of claim 6 wherein said positioning mechanism
further comprises an adjustment means for selecting a horizontal
and a vertical position of said fixture on said sliding rails.
8. The adapter of claim 7 wherein said adjustment means comprises a
micrometric screw.
9. The adapter of claim 7 wherein said adjustment means comprises
an electric stepper motor.
10. An apparatus for inspecting end surfaces of an optical fiber
assembly, said assembly being mounted within a connector body,
comprising: a) abase; b) the adapter of claim 1 mounted to said
base; and c) an imaging device comprising said probe for obtaining
a focused image of said optical fiber end surfaces.
11. A method for inspecting an optical fiber end having a surface,
said optical fiber end being mounted within a connector, said
method comprising: a) releasably attaching a positioning mechanism
having an attachment portion to said connector; b) releasably
attaching a probe to a fixture mounted to said positioning
mechanism, said fixture being moveable relative to said attachment
portion; and c) selecting a position of said fixture for inspection
of said surface.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35
U.S.C .sctn. 119 from U.S. Patent Application No. 60/382,562 filed
on May 24, 2002, the disclosure of which is incorporated by
reference as if set forth in full in this document.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to the field of optical fiber
inspection. More particularly, it relates to an apparatus and
method for performing the inspection of optical fibers that may be
mounted in a connector.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Using optical fiber as a transport medium for
telecommunication demands special attention. The fiber must be in
impeccable condition and exemplary cleanliness is preferable to
limit errors that could appear at the receiver. Distance and
physical pressure on the fiber can modify signal quality. It is
really important to minimize controllable factors that can
seriously affect quality of signal and even cause total loss of
continuity.
[0004] Oil, dust and scratches can degrade the quality of signal.
To correctly inspect fibers in a optical fiber connector, an
optical fiber microscope (probe 10 of FIG. 1) must be used. Many
companies are specialized in this technology and it is applicable
for many types of connectors (SC, ST, MTP . . . ). The better known
microscopes are made by Westover and Telonix.
[0005] Some connectors require specific attention in view of the
high density of their smaller MTP connectors. The guide pins of
some connectors pose another problem: focus can't be achieved
because the focal distance of a conventional fiberscope is too
short. Their lenses are too big and make contact with the MTP guide
pins. Optical fibers are therefore not inspected correctly. Another
restriction is that the female connector is also very complex. It
contains the same number of MTP connectors but they have to be
inspected without unplugging them from the connector body (not
shown).
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,459,564, issued Oct. 17, 1995 describes an
apparatus and method for inspecting end faces of optical fibers and
optical fiber connectors. However, the apparatus and method
described therein comprises many parts, is difficult to use and to
manufacture, is bulky and not easily transportable.
[0007] A practical tool for verifying the quality of each and every
fiber is not presently available. Therefore, there is a need in the
industry for an improved optical fiber end inspection
apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The tool described herein allows for safe (e.g., no danger
of laser radiation into a user's eyes) and easy inspection (e.g.,
on a PC screen) of every fiber in an Optical Interconnect Module
(OIM) (not shown) or similar apparatus without having to remove any
of them from the connector (not shown), or mounting assembly (not
shown), of the OIM
[0009] A particular objective of the adapter 12 (shown in FIG. 2)
is to permit safe and easy visual inspection the end face or
surface (not shown) of every fiber comprised in an optical fiber
connector. Inspecting and ensuring that the end face of fibers are
clean and free of defects is a mandatory precaution for good
connectivity.
[0010] In accordance with an embodiment, the invention provides An
adapter for use in the process of inspecting the end face of an
optical fiber. The adapter is used as an interface between an
inspection probe and a connector. The connector holds an the
optical fiber end which has a surface. The adaptor comprises a
positioning mechanism having an attachment portion for releasable
attachment to the connector; and a fixture adapted for releasable
attachment to the probe. The fixture is mounted to the positioning
mechanism and is moveable relative to the attachment portion. The
positioning mechanism permits movement of the probe for inspection
of the surface.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a partial side view showing an optical fiber
inspection probe;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a partial rear perspective view showing an adapter
in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and
[0013] FIG. 3 is a partial front perspective view showing the
adapter of FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0014] This inspection procedure demands the use of a optical fiber
inspection probe 10 (as shown in FIG. 1). In an exemplary
embodiment, a digital camera from WestOver is used. This camera
includes a lens 11 smaller than on conventional equipment (around
{fraction (1/8)} inch of diameter) and an expansion factor of
200.times.. With this type of camera, it will be possible to
inspect every fiber of each connector without being obstructed by
the connector guide pins. The camera will be used for female or
male connector inspection. MTP connector guide pins are placed at a
length of 2 mm but this camera requires a focal distance of 8.9
mm.
[0015] In an exemplary embodiment, an adapter 12 is used as an
interface between a probe 10 and a connector (not shown). The
connector holds an optical fiber end (not shown) which has a
surface (the end surface or end face). The adaptor 12 comprises a
positioning mechanism 18 having an attachment portion 14 for
releasable attachment to said connector. The adaptor 12 also
comprises a fixture 16 adapted for releasable attachment to the
probe 10. Fixture 16 is moveable relative to the attachment portion
14.
[0016] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, positioning
mechanism 18 includes vertical sliding rails 24 for vertically
positioning probe 10, which is attached to fixture 16. Positioning
mechanism 18 may also include horizontal sliding rails 26 for
horizontally positioning probe 10. In this embodiment, fixture 16
is tube shaped to receive probe end 11. Probe end 11 may thereby
extend through inspection window 28 made within the attachment
portion 14. In an embodiment of the invention, movement of the
fixture is controlled by adjustment of horizontal and vertical
micrometric screws (20 and 22 respectively).
[0017] The user may therefore control the positioning mechanism 18
to move probe 10 for inspection of the entire optical fiber end
surface.
[0018] In an exemplary embodiment, the camera (probe 10) will be
installed on a fixture 16 that is moveable in the X and Y
directions in order to completely cover the surface of all the
fibers in a connector. The camera 10 will be attached on the
fixture 16 and will move relative to the connector to carry out
inspection of all fibers. In another embodiment, the fixture 16
could be placed on a workstation (not shown).
[0019] In yet another embodiment, a Universal Serial Bus (USB)
adapter (not shown) connects directly on the camera 10 allowing
visualization of the quality and cleanliness of the connector on a
computer monitor (not shown). In this case, the adaptor 12 will be
very useful for field representatives (users) who need to work
directly at the customer's site. This USB adapter may come with a
software (FiberChek.TM.) that can automatically inspect the quality
of the fibers. In a mouse click, the software may perform a fiber
inspection and determine if it passes or fails according to
predetermined parameters. This increases speed as well as quality
assurance for each cable.
[0020] For inspection of the connectors located inside an OIM, the
procedure will almost be the same. It is also important to note
that to visually inspect cables with standard equipment a user has
to disassemble the OIM. To prevent this, another type of fixture is
required in order to inspect the connector without disconnecting
the adjacent cable.
[0021] Two exemplary embodiments of the method and apparatus for
inspecting the connectors are presented herein. The first is manual
and the other is the automated. Both methods and apparatuses are
applicable to many types of connectors (e.g., male or female).
[0022] In the manual embodiment, the inspection procedure requires
that the operator moves the camera with micrometric screws: one for
the X direction (20) and another for the Y (22). This manual
operation will be valid for the inspection of the cable (like the
OIM connectors). Then, the operator will verify the entire surface
of the connector, fiber after fiber by carrying out the test
inspection with the FiberChek.TM. software. The results can then be
sent through camera 10 USB port to a user interface such as a
computer screen. The results can be compiled in a file and be
analyzed in a report later.
[0023] The automated embodiment is a more sophisticated alternative
that eliminates manual handling. In fact, the micrometric screws
(20 and 22) can be replaced by electric stepper motors controlled
by a micro controller (not shown) connected on the parallel port of
a computer (not shown). A software program, that will be part of
the user interface, will allow inspection of every fiber on each
connector without worrying about the position of the camera 10.
[0024] The program will carry out the automatic positioning of the
camera 10 and will call the inspection software. If the fibre is
clean, the camera will move to the next fibre. If it is not clean,
it will notify the operator to clean affected fibers/connectors.
Complete inspections can be recorded in a file and results compiled
later on.
[0025] In another embodiment, the invention comprises an apparatus
for inspecting end surfaces of an optical fiber assembly (not
shown). The assembly is mounted within a connector body. The
apparatus comprises a base (not shown) on which is mounted adapter
12. The inspection apparatus also comprises an imaging device
comprising said probe 10 for obtaining a focused image of said
optical fiber end surfaces.
[0026] In another embodiment, the invention comprises a method for
inspecting an optical fiber end having a surface. The optical fiber
end is mounted within a connector. The method comprises releasably
attaching positioning mechanism 18 having an attachment portion 14
to the connector; releasably attaching probe 10 to fixture 16; and
selecting a position of fixture 16 for inspection of the optical
fiber end surface.
* * * * *